Table 5 - Feeding/swallowing team members and their functions
From the following article
Swallowing and feeding in infants and young children
Joan C. Arvedson
GI Motility online (2006)
doi:10.1038/gimo17
| Team member | Function |
|---|---|
Source: Adapted from Arvedson and Brodsky10 (pp. 6–7). | |
| Parents | Primary caregiver and decision maker for child |
| Physician | Medical leader |
| (gastroenterologist, developmental pediatrician, or pediatric physiatrist) | Team co-leader Pediatric health and neurodevelopmental diagnosis Medical and health monitoring within specialty area |
| Speech-language pathologist | Team co-leader (active in feeding clinic and coordinates programmatic activities) Clinic and inpatient feeding and swallowing evaluation Videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) (with radiologist) Flexible endoscopic examination of swallowing (FEES) (with otolaryngologist) Oral sensorimotor intervention program |
| Nurse | Leads preclinic planning Reviews records and parent information Coordinates patient follow-up Changes gastrostomy tubes |
| Dietitian/nutritionist | Assesses past and current diets Determines nutrition needs Monitors nutrition status |
| Psychologist | Identifies and treats psychological and behavioral feeding problems Guides parents for behavior modification strategies Directs inpatient behavioral feeding program |
| Occupational therapist | Evaluates and treats children with problems related to posture, tone, and sensory issues |
| Social worker | Assists families for community resources in a variety of ways Acts as advocate for the child |
| Additional specialists | |
| Otolaryngologist | Physical examination of upper aerodigestive tract Detailed airway assessment FEES with speech-language pathologist Medical and surgical treatment of airway problems |
| Pulmonologist | Lower airway disease—evaluation and management |
| Radiologist | VFSS with speech-language pathologist Computed tomography (CT) scan of chest Varied radiographic diagnostic studies |
| Pediatric surgeon | Surgical management of gastrointestinal disease |
| Cardiovascular surgeon | Surgical management of cardiac disease |
| Neurologist/neurosurgeon | Medical and surgical management of neurologic problems |
| Physical therapist | Seating evaluations and modifications to seating systems |
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